Friday, May 29, 2015

Epitath? "Ain't Photography Grand!"

Am thinking (not sure yet) of using the "Ain't Photography Grand!" thingy as a epitaph to put on my gravestone. I might be buying the stone early (hopefully early!!) in the next year or so. I have a grave already next to my father and mother but still need to buy the stone. These things are very expensive and I figure why not buy it early to save money, later on it might cost $2-300 or more.

Seeing your name on a grave might also INSPIRE and DRIVE you. It might help me push myself to use the time I have left better, more productively. Seeing my name there on that black marbel with everything but the death date on it should be pretty freaky deaky! It will tell me. Time is running out Gerry! Time is running out!! Get your ass in gear!!!

I will have my real name and also my photo name GERRY YAUM on the monument (they call them that at the cemetery stone store, sounds so grand!). I decided it was proper to put 2 names on the stone just in case someday someone wants to find either of the names I use. My father had 2 first names, he put both on his stone so I am following his lead there.

Bangkok (other) Homeless People Donations Given Out

MEE BOON ANIMAL CHARITY DONATIONS GIVEN OUT

Donation Money Spent For The "Families of the Dump". MONEY GIVEN OUT

81373 Baht or $3256.40 CAD

Total donation money spent so far this trip. Money given out.

"Families of the Dump" Donation Total

$3398.39CAD

TOTAL MONEY DONATED. This money will be given to the families in Mae Sot on my next trip to Thailand, October 2017. It will mostly be handed out in goods from me directly to them, no middlemen. I hope to raise over $1500 CAD.

GERRY YAUM'S Photography Website

GERRY YAUM'S Documentary Film Making Blog

GERRY YAUM: YouTube Video PHOTOGRAPHY CHANNEL

Shows, photo stories, darkroom work, shooting in the field and fun videos.

GERRY YAUM'S VIMEO Video Page

Gerry Yaum On Facebook

GERRY YAUM FACEBOOK

THE GOAL

To create photographs that speak to the universality, the commonality and the shared humanity of all peoples, regardless of country, race, culture or language.

TRANSLATE YAUM'S PHOTO DIARY INTO YOUR LANGUAGE

Quote: Robert F. Kennedy

“The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better.”

Quote: Nelson Mandela

"As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest."

Quote: Weegee (Authur Fellig)

"Be original and develop your own style, but don't forget above anything and everything else...be human...think...feel. When you find yourself beginning to feel a bond between yourself and the people you photograph, when you laugh and cry with their laughter and tears, you will know your on the right track....Good luck."

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"KLONG TOEY PORTRAITS" Blurb book for sale!

DONATE TO GERRY YAUM "Lost Innocence" Project

"Lost Innocence" Project, PLEASE HELP

I am trying to raise $10000 CAD for a project I am calling "Lost Innocence" this project will be a series of 100 plus portraits shot in brothels all around Thailand. I hope to raise awareness and educate others through public talks and showings of the work in the West. If the people can see the faces of these trafficked women and girls maybe some solutions to stop this sex slavery, this crime against humanity, can be found. Photography has the power to cause change, please help me tell these girls stories.

All $10000 CAD will go towards the production of the photographs which will take an estimated 6 months to complete. Please help, thank you. Gerry

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"Lost Innocence" Project, PLEASE HELP

I am trying to raise $10000 CAD for a project I am calling "Lost Innocence" this project will be a series of 100 plus portraits shot in brothels all around Thailand. I hope to raise awareness and educate others through public talks and showings of the work in the West. If the people can see the faces of these trafficked women and girls maybe some solutions to stop this sex slavery, this crime against humanity, can be found. Photography has the power to cause change, please help me tell these girls stories.

All $10000 CAD will go towards the production of the photographs which will take an estimated 6 months to complete. Please help, thank you. Gerry

The Three Joys Of Photography

I have been thinking of why I love photography, it comes down to something I have labeled "The Three Joys"1) Creativity The first joy is simply creating the work. Everything about the making of photographs I love. The initial ideas, the writing on the blog, the preparation of equipment, the research into my subjects, figuring out what I want to communicate. The camera tech stuff like composition, lens selection, cameras, figuring exposure, taking the shot etc. The post darkroom work where you swim with your prints bringing them slowly to life, creating something powerful and beautiful. I love it all.

It is so powerful a thing, you have a idea in your mind, there is nothing else, then YOU make it, you create it, it's fricking awesome stuff.

2) The People The second joy is that photography has allowed me a way into so many peoples lives, so many different worlds. I get to meet people of all types, speak to them, eat with them, cry and laugh with them. For a while I get to live their existence to be them if you will.

I get to be a child in a slum in Bangkok or a drug addict in a ghetto in Oakland. I get to be a ladyboy sex worker in Pattaya or a man dying of cancer in Canada. Of course I am not really those people but I get a true flavor for those worlds, those experiences, the good and the bad, the ugly and the beautiful, the joy and the sadness.

With photography I get a chance to live outside of the same same everyday meat and potato lives many of my friends and family live. Because I use a camera and make pictures all the doors to a wonderful life experience are open to me, photography is a window into everything!3) The Photograph The third joy is about the feeling you get when you accomplish your goals, when you see your final print in the developer, fix or hanging in a gallery. There is a special emotion there, a true satisfied happiness, something so uniquely rewarding. In the darkroom sometimes when I see the finished photo for the first time as it lays in the fixer tray I will let out hoops of joy. I will scream and shout. It is quite a spectacle! It's just the sheer high of that moment bursting out, the YES moment. When the photo is right and you see it for the first time it's the best feeling in the world, better than anything I have ever felt, the high of highs!!

"Ain't Photography Grand!"

"Can a photograph stop a war? Can it save a life? Can it lead to understanding, inspire someone to help, provide comfort and open the door to compassion?